The Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) stood out as one of the most prestigious awards in the wine world this year. 18,250 wines from 56 different countries were evaluated by expert jury members using a blind tasting method. The jury members scored the wines according to criteria such as aroma, taste, balance, quality and originality.

Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé (France)

Grape Varieties: Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle

Region: Provence, France

Taste Profile: Light strawberry, peach and citrus notes. It has a fresh, light and lively structure.

Why It Won: A pioneer in the global success of Provence rosé wines, this wine stands out for both its taste and its popularity in the market.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors.

Here are a few things that parents will actually enjoy and appreciate this year:

Amazon

This twin pack of Whispering Angel

Wine Mums will rejoice, even if they hate the term WINE MUM – because Whispering Angel is delicious and having it at home is never a bad thing.

‘Fresh Twist’

Fiona Whelan, wine buying manager at Tesco Ireland, said, “At Tesco, we’re seeing more and more people reach for rosé during the winter, even though it’s traditionally associated with summer.

“With its vibrant notes and refined finish, rosé brings a fresh twist to a festive meal and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser at any holiday gathering.

“It’s perfect as an aperitif or to pair with a delicious cheese board or decadent dessert.”

For a celebratory glass, Tesco has a bubbly Crémant selection for that festive pop.

Made in France using the same traditional method champenoise as champagne, Crémant brings all the sparkle and sophistication of champagne at a more affordable price.

Speaking about the selection, Whelan said, “Crémant’s popularity has been on the rise in recent years, and it’s easy to see why.

“With its crisp bubbles and elegant style, it offers all the sparkle of Champagne at a more accessible price point.

“As more people discover its versatility and quality, Crémant has become a fantastic choice for a variety of occasions, especially during Christmas time – it’s the perfect accompaniment to fruit-based desserts like apple pies and crumbles.”

In the white, atmospheric and welcoming space of Niki, the pieces of the collection for the Fall/Winter 2024-25 season had the first place. Inspired by the charming world of astronomy, celestial bodies and the stellar universe, the Celestial collection has already begun to chart its own path in the fashion of the season with key pieces such as the lace bodysuit with the athletic cut, the animal printed piece with the pronounced shoulder, the new wrap piece with transparency and the minimal, long-sleeved white bodysuit with the draped design on the back giving the mark of winter style.

On the opening night, the Niki pedestrian street was flooded with love with fashion icons who were present to share Christina Katsaouni’s joy in the new chapter of her fashion journey which began 7 years ago. Inspired by her stylistic obsession – bodysuits – and with a vision to capture her aesthetic and love for 90s fashion, Christina Katsaouni created The C Edition. The label that celebrates women through a stylistic circle of women that never stops growing and evolving and has found its own place among the most recognizable and beloved of Greek fashion.

An ally in the glamorous evening was the famous Whispering Angel wine by Trinity Wines with its “feminine” rosé hue and refined taste that perfectly matched the philosophy of The C Edition.

Luxury Treasure Hunts, a treasure hunt production company that hosts treasure hunts in unique locations worldwide, is returning to the Antigua Yacht Charter Show.

Captains, crew, and brokers can get a taste of the pirate life during the Antigua Yacht Charter Show with Luxury Treasure Hunts. From Dec. 4-9, the show and treasure hunt will run across the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nelson’s Dockyard, Falmouth Harbor Marina and the Antigua Yacht Club Marina.

More than 30 superyachts participated in last year’s first treasure hunt hosted by Luxury Treasure Hunts.

“Last year’s response to our event was extraordinary,” said Charlie Moretti, founder of Luxury Treasure Hunts. “The crew particularly appreciated how the hunt provided a refreshing break from the show’s intensity — some yachts even arranged additional cover to be able to participate in the experience fully.”

The treasure hunt will challenge participants with puzzles, games, riddles, time-sensitive tasks, and fun bonus challenges to complete while earning points. The grand finale on the last day of the show will feature a final challenge where winners and runner up teams will claim their treasure. First place prize includes a $5,000 commission against booked treasure hunts (or five $1,000 against Aquavistas experiences), a one-year Charter Itinerary subscription, a Whispering Angel magnum provided by Onshore Cellars, and a full care package from Ecozhen.

For those interested in joining the treasure hunt and for more information, contact Oscar Harris: oscar@luxurytreasurehunts.com

Images by Henry Henthorn. 

An Excerpt From A First Time for Everything

By K.L. Walther Chapter 4

“No, I haven’t been on a date,” I said, trying to keep my voice level. “And I’ve never been kissed.” I reached for our Whispering Angel rosé, and no one protested when I took a sip straight from the bottle. One dose of liquid courage.”

Sacha Lichine and his founding Consulting Oenologist Patrick Léon created a completely new style of rosé that is more reminiscent of a barrel-aged Chardonnay.

Château d’Esclans forms amongst the most impressive building ensemble in the Provençal wine world.

The flagships such as Château d’Esclans, Les Clans and Garrus are produced at the château itself.

A modern winery was built in the village for brands such as Whispering Angel and Rock Angel. The purchased grapes are processed there, while at the château itself only the company’s own grapes are vinified.

The rapid rise is associated with two names: Sacha Lichine, who sold the family château in Bordeaux to put everything on the Provence card. He recognized the potential of rosé as a sophisticated wine early on. He relied entirely on Grenache and was the first to mature the wines in 600 Liter barrels.

This is where the second name comes into play: Patrick Léon, the long-standing Mouton-Rothschild oenologist, was responsible for the vinification at Château d’Esclans from 2006 up until his death in 2018. Today, and since 2011, Léon’s son, Bertrand, serves as the Château’s Technical Director telling me that “I came here for the first time in 2008 with my father, two years after he and Sacha Lichine had started the first experiments with barriques in 2006.It wasn’t about the taste at all: The barrels were the easiest way to get to know all the plots. But we quickly realized that the combination with Grenache in particular works very well.

The same applies to Rolle, which, like Grenache, responds very well to maturation in wood. It has fruit and body, but without a lot of tannin, which is very important. For this reason, he only uses Mourvèdre in very small doses. With Syrah you can increase the expression on the palate, but the aromas are not ideal for rosé. In Les Clans and Garrus, only around 20 percent Rolle and a little Tibouren are used alongside Grenache.

The wooden barrel cellar is fascinating. Each individual barrel is equipped with a mobile cooling device that can be inserted into the barrel via the bunghole if necessary. A futuristic interior view that forms a contrast to the picturesque property with the château and huge old trees.

The winery is in the Var department. “This is France’s department with the highest proportion of forest. Of course, this is an important climate factor and also crucial for our terroir, alongside the soil, which becomes increasingly calcareous the higher you go. He describes Les Clans as “a slightly finer, more feminine wine while Garrus is a little more structured and firm.”

And at around 120 euros, it is also pretty much the most expensive rosé in the world.

In contrast, Whispering Angel is the most famous rosé brand in the world, producing more than 10 million bottles.

Given this volume, the quality is remarkably high and is certainly a key to the rosé phenomenon.

Tasting Note

2023 Château d’Esclans, Garrus, Côtes de Provence AOP

Apricot and tangerine, orange blossom, also lime blossom and chamomile; the wood is evident, but the wine as a whole is so full-bodied that it asserts itself, showing a clayey texture and intense Mediterranean herbal notes.

By Callum Crumlish

Rugby fans will be able to attend the upcoming Six Nations tournament at Twickenham next year in style with Keith Prowse’s hospitality tickets.

In 2025 England will host the Six Nations for the first time since 2003. There, they will be joining Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy at the annual rugby competition where elite rugby players will go head-to-head in the batch of rivalries which have dated back more than 140 years.

This year, the Six Nations is being hosted in Twickenham, and dedicated fans can enjoy an incredibly unique and bespoke experience using Keith Prowse’s hospitality services . There, fans will be able to enjoy complimentary food and drink.

With a huge choice of tickets available right now, fans can secure a full course of food across their chosen event day. This will include a spread of appetisers, plus a “chef’s tribute to the visiting nation served as an Amuse Bouche”. After that, a four-course British-inspired menu in collaboration with a Michelin star chef.

On top of that, Keith Prowse will offer Bollinger Champagne and Whispering Angel throughout the day, with premium spirits, real ales, Guinness, premium lager and a choice of fine wines also available.